IN THE CAGE

24. GRIEVING DAY

...FAWN...

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Margot shows up in Ace's room with a box of pizzas. Wearing sunglasses at night, I think this woman is already on the verge of insanity. A little push, he would lose his sanity completely.

"Good night, Miss Margot," I say hello to her who put a box of pizza on the table. Two bodyguards Miss Margot-David and Vera followed with a gloomy look. I think they're still grieving after the loss of a work relative. I approached Vera and gave her a light hug.

"I'm so sorry" I said before turning to David and giving him the same light hug.

"Thank you, Fawn." David answered me in a soft voice.

"Oh, where's my hug?" miss Margot turned around and looked at me with a shameless look. Does she expect me to run towards her and give her a hug too?

"Haha, I'm sorry." I forced a smile and approached Miss Margot who greeted me with wide open arms. I entered his arms and felt a great discomfort. This woman is like a parfume shop. The sharp aroma emanating from his gloomy clothes made my nose itch extraordinarily.

I slipped out of Miss Margot's arms and sneezed for a moment.

"Life is so hard now" I ignored Miss Margot's complaint because I immediately looked for a tissue to clog the mucus in my nose. Damn, what kind of parfume is she wearing?

"I thought meeting you would make my mood a little good, but what's going on here?" miss Margot highlighted Ace's still-cluttered table. Oh, speaking of Ace-he went somewhere when I accidentally fell asleep with him. I woke up in a body wrapped in a blanket and I was on the bed.

"What did Ace do this?"

"That's how," I said. I said as I watched Miss Margot who was now taking off her sunglasses. Instantly, I immediately understood what the use of the sunglasses was when I saw Miss Margot's eyes.

"Ace had no strong attachment to anything, even with the life of his own bodyguard. Seeing him go berserk like this, he must have gotten into another fight with Uncle Jack." Margot spoke with a heavy sigh. "Even on a day like this they still fight."

I didn't know who Uncle Jack was Miss Margot referring to, so I just listened in silence. We ended up sitting on the sofa, I sat in the middle and flanked by David and Miss Margot, while Vera sat on a single sofa close to Miss Margot.

"Ah, ah, forget it." Miss Margot shook her hand. "We'd better eat."

Vera took the initiation and opened the pizza box that had been neglected. The smell of fresh cheese, combined with the aroma of sour, sweet and spicy that is not defined, invited my stomach to kick. Immediately starving, I thought I could spend one of those pizza boxes alone.

"The way to improve a somber mood is to eat delicious food." Miss Margot took the first slice followed by me, David and Vera. We ate the pizza in peace until I heard David talking and wept Miss Margot broke out there.

"Pizza is Fabian's favorite food" David said, full of nostalgia. "He used to buy us pizza when we were both night watch."

"OARRGHHH!!!!" Miss Margot roared with a voice that was like calling out to a being from another world. "David motherfucker, how many times have I warned you not to bring this up again. Did you deliberately sow pepper on my wound!"

"Salt, miss Margot." I was treating his sadness.

"What a difference, moron. You think pepper doesn't hurt?"

"I-I'm sorry." Damn it, remind me why I'm still sane after all this madness? Someday, I will give myself a gold medal if I can still live and still be sane after I leave this mental institution.

"Fawn, do you know Fabian...., Fawn??? You'll never know because he died a week ago. You never even saw him...YOOOO!!!" miss Margot did not stop roaring, her face soaked by tears made me lose my lust for the pizza in my hands.

"Vera, tell him about Fabian! Fawn needs to know about how noble my soldiers are!"

Vera-like faithful dog, begins to howl indistinctly on the couch. Isakan chime with chaotic words.

"Fabian-hiks-like our own brother-he-hiks-Fabian is very affectionate-he often steals my snacks but he-hikss---Fabian-he even adopts a child-AAAAHHHH!!!"

"JUST DO IT!!!" miss Margot seemed to understand well Vera's grass cipher-like speech, she stood up and pointed at Vera with a burning support. "Fabian adopted a child, he was an angel! He shouldn't have died!!! Who will support his son!!!"

I scratched my head. Although I understood their sorrow and empathized, I could not help but hold back the curl over their earthy cries and roars. I think I was too used to seeing the graceful Miss Indira and behaving like a princess, I was not used to seeing this zoo.

I turned towards David who was sitting on my left side, he cried without a sound. Not knowing what to do between this sea of emotions, I ignored Miss Margot who was still clamoring to express her aspirations and disappointment. I chose to rub David's back. He seems like a very bad person. Given David's position as leader, I would probably cry like I lost Joseph.

"Pick up all of David, cry out loud and let out all the feelings you're feeling." I murmured weakly, "Sad, cry, and then, get up. All sorrow will find happiness. Fabian's departure may hurt you now, but remember him in a very happy state. Only then, can he stay in your memories forever as the most precious figure, don't remember his departure as a wound."

I kept talking until I didn't know if I was talking sensibly or just making fun of it. My hand kept patting David on the back until finally a hand caught my wrist. Holding my movements and making me surprised.

A hand with a black clock coiled around his wrist caught my attention instantly. That hand is so familiar. The same hand that holds my hand often.

"Aces?" I turned around and saw him sitting on the shoulder of the sofa. Miss Margot who was sitting on my right side had already moved to the single sofa where Vera was sitting.

"You seem to be a specialist for people who are sad." Ace's expression was irritated.

"Is something wrong, yeah..." Ace glanced at Margot before looking at me with a thin grin. "Nothing, obviously not there."

What else is this crazy guy's problem?

"Margot, what commotion did you create in my room? Are you planning on making my room smell like old socks?" Ace diverted his fad to Miss Margot.

"It's pizza, Ace. Not socks. Don't vent your jealousy on me." Margot crossed her legs, as if her sadness had not existed. Vera and David who were in relaxed mode immediately stood up and acted like a bodyguard.

"Jealous? Who?" Ace frowned.

Right, who's jealous? I don't get it.

"Forget it," said Miss Margot, her voice insinuating. "Anyway, where are you from?"

"I went to buy this," Ace put a beautiful box with a refreshing sweet scent onto my lap. His sudden action left me a bit stunned. I looked at the transparent contents of the box and found five macarons lined up in it with beautiful colors.

"This is for me?" I was overwhelmed with excitement. My heart was like being showered with fireworks. Hell, I haven't tasted macarons in a long time.

"Likes?" Ace raised his eyebrows while looking at me.

In response and appreciation for his gift, I smiled widely and nodded cheerfully. This is the best gift. I miss sweet food so much to color my bitter days. Hahahahaha, it's like a new year. Will I be released in the morning? Surprises and surprises keep coming. I wish I had a lot of luck.

"Eat," said Ace and put a gentle rub in my hair. I didn't comment on his actions and turned to Vera and David.

"You want to?"

"E-uh?" Vera stutters.

"I gave it to you!" sambar Ace's. Ace's gentle swipe on my head turned into a flick on the forehead.

"Uh-but, I'm not alone here. Food will taste better when shared with friends, have you ever heard those words?"

"Not because it's bullshit." Ace said.

"Heh, it's because you don't have any friends." I was about to thrust the macaron back at David and Vera, but it came to a standstill again as Ace pulled my neck into his chest, pressed me down and hid me there with tremendous pressure. Damn, is he that stingy?

It's just a macaroni, for Christ's sake!

"Seeing you has left me half-dead, '" Miss Margot's voice reached my ears. "Vera, David, let's go. I'm worried about Fawn's safety if we stay here."

"Alright, Boss." said David.

"David, Vera.., I'm sorry..." I forced my voice out despite my face sinking into Ace's chest that smelled like tobacco. Damn, even though I've offered them food.

"It's okay, Fawn. Hehe. Excuse me."

"Don't leave your socks behind" said Ace-I thought of referring to the pizza Miss Margot brought.

"Ughhh!!!" I wriggled strongly in Ace's arms. Trying to escape even though the hand that holds me as solid as prison bars.

"Can you let me go now?" I whine pissed. "Miss Margot's out, isn't she? You don't have to be afraid people will eat your macaroni."

After a few seconds passed in my rebellion attempt, Ace loosened his arms. I looked up at his face with full of aggravation buried in the chest. I wanted to scold her right then and there but swallowed my words after our eyes met. The bastard smiled mischievously, showing off his charm that made my heart fixate.

"Don't tease me with that adorable face" Ace said to my ears. "I want to eat you."

"Canibals!" I who understood Ace's intention immediately pulled myself up from his chest. Immediately, I shifted and sat in the corner of the sofa. I held my macaron in great nervousness.

"Eat," Ace commanded again and this time, although the macaron he brought was the food I missed, I felt nothing but panic and nervousness. 

The man's eyes are dangerous.

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